as it was chez un des ministres, she put on all her diamonds, consisting of a splendid necklace, earrings, brooch, tiara, and ceinture; they were estimated at an immense sum. At a little before one o'clock, monsieur, who was fatigued, proposed retiring: madame consented, de la meillure grâce du monde. As soon as they arrived at home, with true conjugal affection, Madame T- with her own fair hands, prepared her husband's bavaroise, got his slippers, his night cap: in short, her duti ful attentions only ceased when the bon homme was fairly in bed and fast asleep. She then, after having given a coup d'œil to her toilette, descended, got into her carriage, which was still in waiting, and drove to the second ball, where she was received with manifestations of the utmost delight by her friends-all applauding her finesse. Cavaliers innumerable presented themselves to beg the honour of her hand for the next dance; and it was more than four o'clock in the morning before she thought of the third ball. It was too late decidedly to go any where but home; so she accepted the offer of a gentleman to escort her to her carriage: she got in, "à l'hotel" she ordered, and the carriage drove away. Presently, however, she fancied she saw something move in the opposite corner. She stretched forth her hand, and uttered a cry of surprise, at finding a man, wrapped in a large cloak, seated in the opposite corner. -Terrified to death, Madame T scarcely knowing what she did, let down the glass, with the intention of calling to the first person she saw pass. Mais il y a peu de passans à quatre heures et demi du matin. The gentleman drew up the glass; alleging that, as the weather was cold, she might be apt to get a fluxion de poitrine. She then, in a peremptory manner, ordered him out of her carriage; at the same time, pulling the check-string for her footman. He told her it was useless, for that the carriage was his; that hers had been sent home long before, but that he was proud to have the honour of conducting her to her hotel. He then said that it was not his intention to offer her any insult. “What!" she cried, "you have been sent then by my husband to watch me? It is infamousshameful-I will not remain another day with a man who treats me so ill!" When

at length he was able to make himself heard, he entreated her not to attribute to him so disgraceful a motive as that of a spy upon her conduct: he knew, he said, that she was propriety itself.

"Then," exclaimed madame," for Heaven's sake what makes you here-or rather, why am I here, instead of in my own carriage? what is your motive? what are you?" "Je suis un voleur, madame." Poor Madame Twas ready to faint, but the gentleman took from his pocket a bottle of smelling salts "I am a robber, madame." VOL. VI.-No. 3.

which he politely offered. "Now, madame," he said "let me beg of you not to be in the least alarmed: permit me," he continued," to take this diamond aigrette, these earrings, this necklace, the ceinture also, and with these scissors to cut from your dress the diamond agraffes: I shall take care and not cut the blonde. Now, madame, by replacing these ornaments with roses, which are far better adapted to your youth and beauty, the same dress will serve for the ball at the Duc de on Saturday, where I shall again have the honour of seeing and admiring you," at the same time folding the jewels in his handkerchief, which he put into his pocket with the utmost coolness; the carriage stopt; he got out, knocked at the poste cochère, handed in madame, jumped into his carriage, and drove off with the utmost speed. In vain Madame T-- sent out the concierge to see which way he went, the carriage was out of sight. This is a singular story, is it not?

PARISIAN COSTUME. Maintenant chère amic, que je t-apprenne a te faire belle!

In WALKING COSTUME.-Manteaux still supersede every other toilette; I have described them so frequently, that I need not do so here. Rich gros de Naples, and satin redingottes with pelerines are coming in for the fine season: the corsages are at present invariably made tight to the bust; the sleeves are immensely full all the way down, and finished at the wrist by a poignet (wristband), a good deal deeper than those lately worn, and which, instead of being buttoned, is fastened with gold studs. A round double or single pelerine is worn with these redingottes. Many of them are edged all round with a small liseré (piping) of a different colour: as marron and blue, brown and blue, green and lilac, very dark and very light green, lavender, dove colour or grey with red or deep rose liserés; and some are tied down the front at distances with bows of ribbon to match, but the bows are not very much adopted as yet. These are at present the only walking dresses in vogue.

HATS.-Velvet, satins, velours epinglé, reps and poux de soie, are the materials for hats. In form, I have not remarked any thing very new; the fronts are rather large, they descend low at the sides, and the bonnet is worn close to the face; the crowns are neither remarkably high, nor are they low, they are rather pointed at top; the ribbon, of which a great quantity is worn, is of satin; the bows are placed inclining to the side, more than to the front, and are à l'Echelle. Feathers are de grande mode just now. A great deal of ribbon, pink or blue, generally, is worn in the blonde border beneath the fronts of the hats: flowers are out. For nouveautés, we must wait for Long-Champs.

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GRANDE TOILETTE.-The following is a splendid costume for a lady who does not wear low dresses. A redingotte of Brussels lace, over and under dress of pink, blue apple green, or lilac satin, and fastened down the front with bows of satin ribbon of the same colour; a berret of velours epinglé; a toque of gaze Dona Maria, or a turban à la Juive: this is one of the most distingué toilettes you can possibly imagine.

The CORSAGES of dinner, concert, or ball dresses, are made plain, fitting tight to the bust, with or without draperies put on à la Sévigné, or else drapé and croisé (coming in folds from the shoulder and crossing in front). The sleeves short, excessively full, and seldom now à sabot: but even when they are so, they do not by any means reach to the elbow. Cela donnait l'air de grande mère à nos jeunes personnes! the skirts of all the dresses are worn full and very long some are garnis de blonde, others ornamented with bows of satin ribbon, bouquets, or marabouts. Open robes are not so much worn for dancing as they have been.

The TOILETTES A L'ANTIQUE are still in favour, they are, as you know, made in velvet satin, broché, damassé, and other rich materials of the olden time:" some of these dresses are literally covered with jewels. The corsages are à pointe, the sleeves à double sabot, the ruffles à la Louis XV.; and then the coiffures in every style from the sixth century to the present day!

The satin MANTELETS, wadded and trimmed with swansdown, called Polonaises, and which I mentioned in my last, are universally adopted par les femmes de bon ton: they are so light that they do not spoil the toilette in the least, and so warm that they effectually prevent colds; some wear with them sleeves of the same that reach above the elbow. I saw our princesses at the opera a few nights ago, they had Polonaises with sleeves to match, which they wore all the evening.

I must here mention a revival of the ancient modes, and which with the Polonaise ensures our comfort sertant du bal—that is, the calash, made of silk and whalebone, and exactly such as our grandmothers wore, it does not in the least derange the hair, nor any coiffure, however high-enfin il n'y a rien de plus confortable.

TURBANS, TOQUES, AND BERRETS, are more worn than ever I remember them; they are made of gold and silver tissues, light gauzes, tulle sylphide, velvet, velours epinglé, and satin, ornamented with birds of Paradise, ostrich feathers, marabouts, diamond aigrettes, &c. For the turbans, those styled à la Juive and l'Odalisque, are most in vogue. Your marchande de modes, of course, knows them by name. The berrets are turned up in front, and are very becoming to some persons. Then the Dubarry hats, and the petit chapeau à la Henri IV. are also in favour.

EN TOILETTE D'INTERIEUR.-Embroidered satin dresses are adopted by our merveilleuses; large collars, embroidered all over à la Louis XIV., and trimmed with splendid lace, are worn. Aprons of satin broché. Manchettes (ruffles) of fine cambric trimmed with Valenciennes, and fastened with gold studs. Slippers embroidered on black silk canvass (not filled in), but of course lined with black. A wide satin ribbon round the neck, fastened by a brooch in front. Coiffure en cheveux, or a cap; and a pair of black silk mittens, embroidered on the backs: voilà ma chère, la toilette of one of our elegantes on her morning de reception-for you must know, that we are "not at home" every day to our friends, who we receive on certain days, once a week; generally, mes jours de reception, sont les jeudis.

The dresses mostly adopted by demoiselles, are of organdi (book-muslin), embroidered all over in sprigs, or small bouquets, done in coloured silks or worsteds: these dresses, with ribbons and flowers to match, are very pretty and simple for young persons.

The BOUQUETS carried in the hand are enormously large, and are without paper round them. The fans are quite à l'antique, those of the days of Mesdames de Pompa dour and Dubarry are the most prized.

GLOVES.-Long kid gloves,trimmed round the tops with a quilling or puffing of satin ribbon to match the colour of the dress, have quite replaced the mittens that were so fashionable last winter. Some of our belles have, instead of ribbon, a wreath of roses de Meaux, or of any other minute flower.

Blond STOCKINGS font fureur, just now they are very beautiful, and are worn over thin pink silk stockings.

LES BALS COSTUMES. -Sont très à la mode cette Année. Almost all our elegantes who are petites et minces, adopt the costume of pages.

Satin trousers, a short robe of crape embroidered with gold or silver, a manteau of velvet, also embroidered, and the pretty toque with feathers, forms a delicious costume. The dress of a rich Féronnière, and that of a Chatelaine, are also favourites. Polish, Russian, and Eastern costumes are to be seen innumerable; but Swiss and Scotch girls now look fade in comparison. I have an invitation to one, at an ambassador's; if I could procure a suit of armour, I think I would go as Jeanne d'Arc!" Mon mari dit que je suis folle! n'importe,

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COLOURS.-For ball-dresses, the colours worn are white, pink, pale blue and chamois; for dresses, à l'antique, marron, purple, green and cerise; for walking dresses, &c. marron, chocolate, grenat, dark green, lavender, and cendre: for hats, green, grenat, chocolate, pink, and paille.

Maintenant ma bonne et cherè amie je ne veux plus t-ennuyer, mon mari t-embrasse mille fois ainsi que moi. Addio, ricordati di me. L. de F.